Therapeutic MINDFUL PHOTOGRAPHY Program

Upcoming Training Dates

The next virtual Intro to Within & Without™ program begins January 4th 2025. This will be followed by an advanced Within & Without™ grief group training in March.

January 2025 10-hr Intro training program for professionals

Where: Virtual Training
When: Saturday Jan 4th 9am-1pm PDT
Friday Jan 10th 9am-11am PDT
Friday Jan 17th 9am-11am PDT
Friday Jan 24th 9am-11am PDT

Created for

Professionals in the grief and death industry

Such as:

  • counselors
  • death doulas
  • hospice organizations
  • therapists
  • social workers
  • art therapists
  • organization advocates
  • skilled nursing facilities, or
  • volunteers

Who are seeking to integrate a Within & Without™ therapeutic mindful photography program into their work.

Looking for mindful photography as an individual grief group?  Find our more, here Grief Groups | Within & Without™

Mindful Photography Training Overview

Based on Dr. Thomas’s research and extensive experience, you will receive direct training in Within & Without™ therapeutic mindful photography for grief. This professional training offers in-depth knowledge of therapeutic mindful photography, aesthetic perception, symbolism and photographic equivalent, grief ritual, personal and transpersonal narratives, meaning-making, and the impactful role of aesthetic interventions in the grieving process. 

PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS: 

 You will not only develop an intellectual understanding of the program but also engage in direct experiences through various ways of knowing, such as self-reflection, creative expression, intuition, interpersonal communication, and observation.

Within & Without™

By The End of this Training You'll Have

  • An overview of therapeutic grief models that emphasis meaning and transformation 
  • In depth theoretical  knowledge on therapeutic  mindful photography 
  • Experiential understanding on how to practice the  Within & Without ™ method
  • An understanding of the role meaning-making can have on the grief process
  • The knowledge on how aesthetic interventions work and how they can support grievers 
  • An understanding of the lived experience of grief through the lens of the Within & Without ™ method
  • An understanding on how to facilitate therapeutic photo elicitation
  • How Within & Without ™ is facilitated both online and in person.
  • An understanding of  the therapeutic impact of integrating nature to support grievers
  • The opportunity to stay connected and share with other professionals utilizing Within & Without™

As an experienced educator and practitioner, I aim to balance structure with intuitive inquiry, valuing all perspectives and demonstrating how to cultivate a safe environment where participants can freely create and express themselves.

Therapeutic MINDFUL PHOTOGRAPHY Program

Within & Without™ Training Options

Both the intro training and the advanced grief group facilitation training are offered virtually. They can both be applied in your independent practice or within your organization, including with staff, residents, caregivers, and nurses under the supervision of Dr. Thomas.

Intro Training

This introductory training will provide you with the knowledge, experience, and confidence to practice Within & Without™ for your own benefit and to integrate it as a grief support tool in individual sessions. CE's might be offered for an additional fee. This intro training is a pre requisite for the advanced training where you will learn group facilitation.

Advanced Certification Training

This advanced training will focus on how to facilitate Within & Without™ grief groups as a therapeutic tool. This training might offer CE's for an additional fee. After you complete the advanced group facilitation training you will receive a training certificate of completion and an electronic badge as displayed below.

Badge for Completing all trainings

Testimonials for the program

Frequently Asked Questions About the Program

No. You do not have to take both. However you will not be permitted to offer Within & Without ™ grief groups without taking both trainings. 

Unlike conventional approaches to photography, mindful photography sees beyond what is “looked” at. The focus is clear seeing and personal resonance. Photography, when practiced mindfully, can facilitate an aesthetic experience wherein one learns to temporarily overcome the subject-and-object dichotomy and disconnection. The process of mindful photography involves the acts of receiving, letting go, and learning to wait. You let go of thinking, judging, self-evaluation, clinging, and rejecting and accepting whatever comes, good or bad. When photography is practiced mindfully, it can be therapeutic and increase awareness and the capacity to create meaning through our experiences.

Trainings will teach you the therapeutic impact of MP through the Within & Without™ therapeutic mindful photography method.

The introduction training is a 10 hr training. Training hours are broken up into one 4hr session on a Saturday morning and a series of three 2hr sessions in the following weeks. 

The advanced group facilitation training is an 6hr training that is split into two 3hr sessions over two Saturday mornings. 

Please complete an application form and Dr. Jessica will be in touch with you to formally register and pay for the training.

The intro training is $500.00. The advanced training is $400. Student discounts are available upon request.  

The current trainings are online. In person trainings will be announced later.

Professional CE’s are available for an  additional fee. 

For questions about receiving your Certificate of Attendance, contact Dr. Jessica Thomas at [email protected]. For questions about CE, contact Spiritual Competency Academy at [email protected].

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